Three days later I was meeting with the club owner to discuss being a featured dancer. I sat in the chair as he tossed the contract down on the desk in front of me. The document landed with a loud thunk as it hit.

"Are you serious," I said as I eyed the multi-page document?

"Serious about making some money!" "I thought you were too."

"I am, but this contract is going to take hours to read over," I protested.

"That nothing. Just a bunch of legal jargon. It's the standard contract given to all of the featured dancers. Just sign right there."

"I don't sign anything that I haven't read first," I insisted.

"Fine then, read it. I heard you could be ... difficult," he said before walking out of the office.

After an hour and more than twenty pages into the contract, I knew this man though I was either stupid or crazy. I could spot a bad deal no matter how well you dressed it up in legal jargon. This man owned strip clubs from New York to Florida. There were also a few spread out in the Caribbean. If I signed this contract, he had the right to ship me out to any one of them at his whelm or a customer's request. The strip club also gained the right to use my likeness as they saw fit for promotion. This meant they could put my photo on a billboard or even the strip club's web page. I would be under contract with them for the next two years. The strip club's bogus contract prohibited me from getting pregnant, having plastic surgery that was not pre-approved, gaining weight, or working for another strip clubs. This also included private parties. There was no way I was signing on to that.

"So, are you finished plowing through all of those big words darlings?"

"No, but I don't need to go on."

"I told you it was over your head sugar britches."

I gave the man a smirk, leaned back in my chair and crossed my leg." I can't understand why no one has sued you yet."

He gave me a knowing smile then a nod. "You are a smart girl and I'm a business man so let's negotiate. I want you to keep dancing here and bring in more VIPs. What do you want?"

An hour later we had worked out a deal with no written contract. I would get the good shift as well as access to the VIP clients and parties. There would be no traveling any other strip clubs that he owned. They had no say if I decided to quit to have a baby, gained no more than ten pounds, or had plastic surgery. I would not need permission to work private parties as long as they were discrete.

The next few nights went off without a this shift had become less than perfect. An athlete and his entourage were not happy when they found out I did not do lap dances and sent for another stripper. That was not the problem. An hour later I was chilling at the bar cooling off with a glass of water when the rapper came over and sat next to me.

"Sup Ma," he said with a smirk.

I smiled and nodded to him.

"How would you like to be in my next music video?" Would you like to be a star?"

"No thanks," I answered politely as I started to get up.

The Rapper reached over and grabbed me by my wrist. "What, you too good to be in my video," he asked?

"Nah, It's just not my thing. Your are not allowed to touch the dancers," I reminded him.

"Cool," he said letting go of my wrist. "I'm having a party Friday night. How bout I put you and your sexy self on the guest list."

"No, I'm good. If I say yes to you, every guy in here will expect me to come to his party," I teased.

"Aye yo, you one stuck up hoe," he snarled.

"And you are a just another spoiled rich performer. An overgrown child throwing tantrum because someone had the never to tell you no. Sorry If bruised your ego," I told the rapper calmly.

Out of nowhere, he backhanded me across the face. "Sorry if I bruised your face!"

Being the Jersey girl that I am, I had no choice but to slap him back. The Rapper fired back with a jab to my eye. I rocked on my heels as I held on to the to bar steady myself. Then I countered with a right hook. That's when Marcus broke through the crowd. He stepped between the menacing man who was now charging toward me with both fist swinging. The Rapper was lifted off his feet and then went sailing through the air.

"You okay," Marcus asked me?

"I'm fine. He hit's like a little girl," I yelled!

The man staggered back to his feet, picked up a bar stool and launched at me. Without missing a beat Marcus whipped around and caught the stool in mid-air. I took off my platform heel and threw it, hitting the Rapper square in the forehead.

"Yo, chill, you're escalating the situation," Marcus yelled!

"Naw man, baby girl wanna fight, I'm right here," the man yelled over Marcus's shoulder.

I was in full on Rhino mode now. Marcus was not sure who to restrain as I jumped toward my attacker. I was kicking and swinging at the Rapper. While Marcus fought to maintain control of the violent struggle, he was forced to dodge punches from the Rap artist while holding on to me.

"Yo, Jamal! Come get your girl," Marcus yelled!

Jamal rushed into the melee wrapped an arm around my waist while I clawed at the man who had hit me.

"Get her out of the way," Marcus yelled as he continued to fight with the Rapper!

Jamal carried me kicking and screaming outside.

"You need to cool down," he told me calmly as he set me on my feet.

Jamal searched my face and saw fire in my eyes. He maintained his hold on my waist.

"Stop it. You're done, it's over," he said quietly," The tension melted and my entire body started to shake.

"You alright, "Jamal asked as he took off his Staff T- shirt , and placed over my head.

All I could do was nod as I slid my arms though the sleeves of the shirt.

Ten minutes later Marcus outside with my bag.

"Everything is in there," he assured me.

I looked in my bag and then at Marcus.

"How did you get in my locker" I demanded?

He shrugged. "You left the sticker on the back of the lock. Be glad I'm the only one who noticed."

"Why are giving me my stuff?"

"Go home," Marcus ordered.

"Before I could argue, the sirens sounded and police cars appeared.

"Hey, Jamal, do me a favor and handle that. I need to talk to her," Marcus said.

"You were out of control back there. Why didn't you call a bouncer instead of ..."

"He started it," I screamed !

"I know that , but you got no business squaring up with a grown man like that," Marcus scolded.

He took out a pin light and examined me.

"You are shaking," Marcus said." This eye is swelling. You can't drive like this, give me your keys."

"No, I don't like people knowing where I live !"

"Then how are you going to get home? You got somebody you can call?"

I looked at the ground.

"Thought so," he sighed.

I handed him my keys and we walked to my car. Marcus remoted the lock and opened the door for me to get in. Then he angled into the driver's seat and turned on the navigation system. We drove in silence for several miles. Then he asked me a question.

"How did you end up here working in a strip club?" You don't seem the type.

"Really? What type do I seem," I asked quietly?

"The kinda woman who would be married."

"Been there, done that, wasn't all that."

As Marcus drove up to the condo complex I pointed out my building. We parked and then he walked me to my door. Marcus handed me my keys.

"How are going to get home," I asked?

"Don't worry, someones on the way to pick me up. Get some ice on your face," Marcus told me before he left.

I went straight to the bathroom to take a shower. By the time I had dried off and put on my PJs I heard someone pounding on my door. Instantly electricity shot through my nerves putting me on edge. I made a point of keeping where I lived quiet. Nobody was supposed to be pounding on my door at this hour.

"Come on, I know you are in there. Open the door Tundra, it's me," the voice on the other side of the door said.

"Blaze?"

"Yeah."

" Are you Okay Stephanie," he asked with his voice overflowing with concern?

"What are you doing here? How did you know? Who told you," I whispered.

"Look at your face," he said dragging me into the kitchen.

I watched as Blaze made an ice pack then applied it to my face.

"You didn't answer my question," I told Blaze.

"Marcus called me as soon as it happened.

"Marcus ... Why would he call you about me?"

"Because he's my cousin and I told him you were a friend that lives the next building over."

"Now, answer my question. Are you okay," Blaze said?

I looked at him and suddenly felt overwhelmed. The walls that I'd built up to keep people away from my heart slipped when I thought about how he had rushed over to see me. Emotion flooded my body as I started to allow the tears to flow. Blaze stepped in and wrapped his arms around me while I cried.

~XO~XO~XO~XO~XO~XO~XO~XO~XO~XO~XO~XO~XO~XO~XO~XO~XO~XO

As I stood at the bar a handsome man approached. His feral presence murmurer just below the surface of the polished demeanor he portrayed. He was Latino, tall and lean. Perfectly ached brows framed masculine Hazel eyes. The short cropped hair on his head was cut low. A meticulously groomed beard accentuated his appeal. This man moved with swagger. The tailored suit and Italian loafers he was wearing screamed expensive. On his wrist he wore a top of the line gold watch. Full carat diamond studs in each ear.

"Can I buy you a drink pretty lady" he asked while looking at me?"I'll have a beer and something for her," he said to the bartender as he pointed to me before I could answer his question.

He took a swig from his beer and looked at me. "I was in here last week when that seen with the Rapper went down. Sexy lady like you should not have to worry about being assaulted like that. I manage entertainer like yourself. If you want high class events with top notch bodyguards let me know. I can get you on. You interested?"

"I could be," I told him casually.

"Let me hold your cell", he said with a wink.

After handing over my phone,I watched him entered his contact information. "Call me, we'll talk," he said as he walked away.

I picked up my phone and sent a text message to Blaze.

The Eagle has landed.